By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 10: The Malaysia Day 2026 Exhibition at Plaza Merdeka is highlighting key historical documents on the formation of Malaysia to provide the public with accurate information amid differing interpretations of the country’s history circulating on social media.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and Ukas), Datuk Abdullah Saidol, said the exhibition, held from Sept 10 to 16, provides an opportunity for the public to better understand the formation of Malaysia involving Sarawak, Sabah, the Federation of Malaya and Singapore.
He said the exhibition, themed around a “Corridor of Time of Malaysia’s Formation”, takes visitors through the chronology of the country’s formation while highlighting key documents, committees, commissions and prominent figures involved in the process.
“The events surrounding Sept 16 are very important for everyone to understand because we are aware that there is a lot of confusion.
“With the challenges posed by social media and the various interpretations and perceptions of Malaysia’s history, I think we should take the opportunity of Malaysia Day being held in Sarawak to put the correct facts forward and establish the right perspective so that we are not confused,” he said as reported by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
He said this when met by the media after attending a preview of the Malaysia Day 2026 Exhibition at Plaza Merdeka today.
The exhibition features five main segments: the Malaysia Formation Timeline, Malaysia Formation Documents, Malaysia Formation Committees and Commissions, Figures Gallery, and Nationhood Gallery: Tracing Malaysia’s Identity.
The Malaysia Formation Timeline presents key historical developments from May 27, 1961, to Aug 9, 1965.
The Malaysia Formation Documents segment features key documents including the 1962 Cobbold Commission Report, 1962 Inter-Governmental Committee Report, Malaysia Agreement 1963 signed on July 9, 1963, Malaysia Act 1963 and Proclamation of Malaysia 1963.
The Malaysia Formation Committees and Commissions segment explains the roles of key bodies involved in gathering views, examining proposals and building consensus towards the formation of Malaysia.
The Figures Gallery highlights the contributions of leaders from various regions who played roles in the formation of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Nationhood Gallery: Tracing Malaysia’s Identity connects the history of Malaysia’s formation with the identity and responsibilities of Malaysians through displays on the Rukun Negara, the history of the Malaysian flag, etiquette for flying the Jalur Gemilang, and the meanings behind the logos and themes of National Day and Malaysia Day 2026.
In addition to viewing historical materials, visitors can take part in the Nationhood Quiz and Kahoot, watch PENTARAMA performances and witness document preservation demonstrations by the National Archives.
The exhibition is open to the public from 10am to 10pm and aims to deepen appreciation of the significance of Malaysia Day, strengthen patriotism and foster a sense of pride among Malaysians.
Beyond the main exhibition in Kuching, mini Malaysia Day exhibitions are also being held in 10 divisions across Sarawak, including Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Limbang, Sarikei, Kapit, Bintulu, Mukah, Betong and Serian.
The initiative is aimed at giving communities outside Kuching an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the history of Malaysia’s formation.
Various other programmes have also been organised in conjunction with this year’s Malaysia Day celebrations.
These include an Interfaith Thanksgiving Ceremony organised by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) at Pullman Hotel on Sept 14, a Muslim Thanksgiving Ceremony at Masjid Jamek Sarawak on Sept 15, and an open-air movie screening featuring patriotic films at Kuching Polytechnic.
The celebrations will culminate on Sept 16 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), with the attendance of leaders from the federal government, Sarawak and Sabah, alongside performances by artistes representing the three regions of Malaysia.
Also present were Ukas director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan and Information Department Malaysia (JAPEN) Sarawak director Sabri Said. –DayakDaily
